SC won't stop MRT, LRT fare hike yet

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court on Tuesday did not halt the implementation of the fare increase for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT).

Instead of issuing a temporary restraining order on the fare hike, the SC ordered government officials to answer the petitions questioning the legality of Department of Transportation and Communication Order (DOTC) 2014-014, which set the higher fares.

Named respondents in the petitions were DOTC Secretary Emilio Abaya, MRT-3 officer-in-charge Renato San Jose, LRTA administrator Honorito Chaneco, the MRT Corp. and the Light Rail Manila Consortium.

"The Court required respondents to submit their comment to the petitions and the application for a temporary restraining order within a period of ten days from their receipt of notice," SC Spokesperson Theodore Te said in a televised press briefing.

The four petitions against the fare hike were filed by former Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, the United Filipino Consumers and Commuters Inc. and Bayan Muna party-list, among others.

The Aquino government had stood firm on the fare hike, claiming that the government subsidies to be saved because of the fare increase could be used for other projects outside of Metro Manila. 

But those opposing the fare hike had maintained that the fare increase was illegal.

"The fare hike is also arbitrary and unnecessary. Congress has already passed appropriations for train improvements. The fare hike will merely go to the pockets of the big business stakeholders in the train system," Bayan Secretary-General Renato Reyes earlier said.